[FINALIST] - CraftsmanQuad's CraftsmanQuad Mark II [2019 buildoff entry]

What engine does the one you’re talking about have? If it’s an oppy I’m interested. This one was actually too low because it originally had a single in it. The ones with the oppy are actually slightly taller. I just recently learned that.

The hood that was on it sat really close to the flywheel and hit the front of the shroud, poor engine barely had any airflow.

Got the frame cleaned off but I can’t find my spray paint anywhere and now the mk2 is sitting under about 3 inches of snow. So still no paint. Hopefully I can just kick grandma out of the garage for a bit so I can warm it enough to paint. First things first is fixing the ranger. This bmw is absolutely horrible in the snow (who woulda thought), smacked a curb pretty good on the way home today

Ouch. The roads are bad here too now, gotta be real careful.

I actually put the poor ol' Geekuinox right down in a ditch today coming back into town.

Yeah man I made the mistake of driving home right through Purdue’s campus. Already the worst time of the day to drive, then factor in the weather, ugh. Just horrible. I need contact solution but I’m not going back out in this crap.

I think the only things I’m gonna get done by the buildoff is paint, bolt on the new engine, and shorten the tie rods so I can at least get the alignment to where I can drive it. I think I’m gonna stick with a craftsman hood, just fits the dash and everything better. There’s a mower yard a couple hours from me that has about 1300 tractors, hopefully somewhere in that mess I can get a couple spare 820s and a hood

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

What engine does the one you’re talking about have? If it’s an oppy I’m interested. This one was actually too low because it originally had a single in it. The ones with the oppy are actually slightly taller. I just recently learned that.

The hood that was on it sat really close to the flywheel and hit the front of the shroud, poor engine barely had any airflow.

I don't remember. I've yet to find the mower it belonged to (and when I do it will have already been stripped of anything valuable). Next time I go over there I'll just grab it anyway. Also, the one's with the oppys have vents in the top, not the singles... Just another way to tell.

Ah gotcha, thanks!

Got the first coat of paint laid down

Nice! How many coats are you doing?

Until it looks good. Or until I run out of paint. Whichever comes first

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Until it looks good. Or until I run out of paint. Whichever comes first

That sounds like my kind of thinking! Haha.

Update video is on the way since my old channel got deleted. Overview of the build and it’s cu state as of now

Got the c channel welded to the frame where the floorboards meet the fenders. Should help on the declines, something to dig my heels in

Today is assembly. Got the tie rod shortened so the whole thing is back in alignment finally, paint is complete I think. I need to drill a couple holes for the c channel body brace but that shouldn’t take long. Hoping to drive it tonight

Woot! Finish that thing up! We need some finishers!

AllisKidD21 wrote:

CraftsmanQuad19 wrote:

Until it looks good. Or until I run out of paint. Whichever comes first

That sounds like my kind of thinking! Haha.

I was thinking the same thing! Don't want a show piece, he wants a fun piece! Good enough to keep the rust at bay is my way! LOL

Here’s the video I tried to upload last night

New engine somewhat installed. The crankshaft is shorter, had an automotive style dipstick and the oil fill was in the valve cover. So I had to use my old valve cover from the last engine since it had the fitting for the fuel pump, got the dipstick swapped out for the standard mower style, and all the lines to the fuel pump hooked up. Kill wire is hooked up, but the charging system on this is unregulated and the connector is different. Might run a spade connector if I can find one around.

The crankshaft is also shorter, but I think it’s the same diameter so I think I’ll be able to make my pulley work. Really don’t want to have to drive across town to go to TSC for a new one.

I just watched the video. Paint looks nice! Good idea with adding that C-channel... I was worried about those floorboards bending like that. They're made of pretty flimsy steel... Should be much better now.

If you're running the Murray hood, definitely pods, if it's a Craftsman hood, DEFINITELY a light bar. I'd be pretty cool if you could find the original lens too.

I like those front brakes... Making me rethink my new brakes next year.

Thanks! Yeah the brakes will definitely be nice. I got lucky on a lot of things with how everything fits, some was planned and some wasn’t lol, but at the end of the day I think it’ll be a pretty great haspin machine that will be able to hang with the haspin veterans like @Stretch44875, @Therainbowboxer, @Redzz02, @MrModified, @MightyMoose, @Creepycrawler, and @OffroadOhio. All of you guys have been a huge inspiration to me and this build.

Here’s the video on the new engine and another quick update on the machine

LOL, I love that $1 Walmart paint. It's wonderful, dries in no time and looks good. Everything black on the MM was painted with that.

I have some ideas for the fenders, but they're pretty hard to explain... New fenders would probably be best. If your ever down this way again I'll probably have the hood and fenders... Just FYI. I'm sure that junkyard you mentioned would have one though.

I’m sure they would. These craftsman LT tractors are everywhere

New engine in and running! Actually works out better than with the longer crankshaft, and she hits on 2 cylinders for the first time ever!

Great to see she has a heart again!

Been working on exhaust. I think I have a way to tuck it up nice and close to the frame, it’s tacked in place now. Gotta get the manifold off the engine so I can get it all finalized and it’ll be good to go!

Exhaust video

Having an issue with the new engine. Was cranking over fine to start and just locked up. I can turn it with a breaker bar but it’s very stiff. Yes it has oil in it, and I can’t see anything wrong. Any ideas?

I pulled the spark plugs out and they were dry, so it’s not hydrolocked